Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-22
A SINGULAR DILEMMA.
tBelgraviA I
THE yowAL.

array. "Dcar, dear me
Miss Lucilla blushed; and as the
only occupant OF the garden was her
niece. endingindustriously over rose
bush, and SIS the tending OF rose-bushes
seems, upon the face OF il. an occupa-
ton of an extremely harmless e"d inof-
fensive nature, il is TO be presumed
that she blushed on some one else's nc
count, not en- Lucy's. A hat was visi-
ble--a distinctly masculine hat-ap-
parently travelling above the garden
wall, and in the direction OF the gate.
The hat may have be Il the disturbing
element.
dear, dear me /" said Miss Morton
again, with an extra Autter OF the straw
colored ringlets. The French windows
were standing open, and Lucy heard
this time and lifted her head. Hlt rs
really not my fault, Lacy. If gentle
men will behave in this way am not
TO blame for il but people will talk--ln
o country place like this they are sure to
be talking at this moment. Mr.. West
brook does not think of such things
men hardly ever debut he forgets
that continually run the risk, while |
remain single, of having somebody's
name coupled with mine. And he was
here only yesterday. Lucy, If Mr.,
Westbrook is coming again to-day.
calculated Miss Morton, shaking her
head, mingling of importance and
agitation in her tone, cit can only be
for one reasoR."
The color was coming and going in
Lucy's cheeks. She had dropped Int
tie basket she had been carrying, and,
as she stopped TO pick it up, her aunt
noticed her confuSion-a thing alto
gether uncalled for on Lucy's part, and
even presumptuous in a person expect
ing no one.
"What a state Of heat you are in,
child !" said Miss Morton. with annoy
ance "and your hat is almost on the
back of your head ! don't know what
Mr.. Westbrook will think of you L
hope he will make allowances for you,
as / often have to do, | am sure. Not,
said Miss Lucilla, relenting, that |
think YOU really mean tit Is
carelessness, l know-or that you
need be afraid that ! am going
to part with you. So far from that
being the case, my dear, quite made
up my mind from the first that, if Mr..
Westbrook had no objection to it, you
should live withus. / hope you like him
as an uncle, though no one, of course,
could expect me to consult you in the
matter. Dear, dear me Miss Lucilla
calculated, almost Indignantly; "what
are YOU coloring so for? You surely
did not think l was going to refuse
everybody ?"
lit is so warm, aunt, said Lucy,
almost inaudibly hut she Strengthened
the offending hat and bent again over
her rose-bush. Miss Morton, sitting in
the shaded GOODNESS Of pleasant room,
had no sun-rays pouring down upon
her, and no abundance OF tresses to be-
come entangled; but it was undesira-
bic, nor, indeed, was it in Lucy's
thoughts to mention either fact.
Heat never made me look like
that" said Miss Lucilla conplacently-
when the gate clicked, and She retreated
hastily, as she heard the sound, for a
final arrangement of the straw-cOlorcd
ringlets before the mirror.
She was sentimental she was, ii the
truth be told about her. inOrdinately
vain vet kinder heart than Miss Lu-
elias never beat, nor was it wonder
that, on this particular occasion, 1t
should be in a state OF agitation, for
she was fifty-two, and fate had so willed
it that she had never possessed lover.
She arranged the ringlets with a hasty
hand and then turned, expecting to
see Mr.. Westbrook approaching the
open window; but she was little sur
prised to observe that he had made his
vay 10 the rose-bush. He appeared to
have something to say to Lucy, or, per
hsps-it was quite possible-he too was
agitated, and, man like, had suddenly
been seized with desire to defer the
important moment.
Lucy exchanged the ordinary hand
shake with the visitor, man OF about
thirty-two, with a pleasant face OF a
boyish type but the clasp was more
lingering than usual, on his part, this
afternoon, and she had already noticed
an alertness OF step and a new joyous.
ness OF air. They talked in low tones
for a little while they had forgotten
Miss Morton, though the ringlets
had been adjusted again and
the possessor of them had peeped
impatiently across the grass. \ search
ing, expressive look from the man, a
shy, faintly-responsive glance from the
girl, and John Wcstbrook, country
doctor with a poor practice, was tempt
ed once again to do thing be consid'
cred dishonorable, to bind a young
girl bv definite promise to a man with
no settled income, when a cough-a
slightly mincing and an altogether ar
resting cough-became the warning
that recalled him to himself
He released Lucy's hand-he had
taken it for a moment ostensibly to ex-
anime q scratch thorn had given it
and then, with lingering look at her,
and with the consciousness OF an uu'
spoken understanding between them
be walked into the house. Re met
gently reproachinl look from Miss Lu'
elias ewes. Kind creature and hC
owed so much to her. he would not
have appeared to wound her dignity
for the world.
He dropped into seat beside her
and, with a satisfied smile Miss Lu
ella saw that he was watching he
fingers, busy with some fancy-work. i
was an orthodox commencement
"Pm afraid you're thinking I'm 1
very frequent visitor; but ] wanted t.
tell You some news I've heard since
yesterday. | think you'll be pleased
Miss Morton; but | feel sure Of that
you've always been so kind to me, h'
said, drawing, in his animation, a littl,
nearer. "You are the kindest friend
have"
81 have always taken--an interes
in you, Mr.. Westbrook," said Miss Lu
ella softly. ooh, you needn't mine
that noise it is only the parrot, dea
thing"
"Yon have made me so welcome,
Mr.. Westbrook went on, with some
thing remarkably like a tremor in hi
voice. "a poor doctor with no prac
tice-well, with nothing to speak of, a
all events-you were the first to hol'
out helping hand to rue. and you
welcome has been the same ever since